Statement by the President of the Security Council

The Security Council deplores in the strongest terms the recent events in the cities of Ramadi and Fallujah in Anbar province in haq. The Security Council condenms the attacks that are being peq?etrated by A1-Qaida affiliate, the Islalnic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), against the people of Iraq in an attempt to destabilize the country and region. The Security Council recognizes that Iraqi security forces, local police and tribes in Anbar province are showing gTeat courage as they fight to defeat ISIL in their cities.

The Security Council urges the people of h'aq, including h'aqi tribes, local leaders, and h'aqi security forces in Anbar province, to continue, expand and strengthen their cooperation against violence and terror and it stresses the critical importance of continued national dialogue and unity. The Security Council welcomes comments from Grand Ayatollah Sistani welcoming internally displaced residents of Anbar to Najaf and Karbala, as well as the conunitment of a number of communities - Sunni, Shia and Kurd - to meet the needs of the displaced.

The Security Council expresses its strong support for the continued efforts of the Iraqi Governlnent to help meet the security needs of the entire population of Iraq. In this regard, the SecurityCouncil acknowledges the efforts of the Iraqi security forces and Iraqi local police, whose members are also being targeted and killed in ongoing attacks by terrorists. The Security Council welcomes the commitment of the Government of Iraq in the protection of the civilian population in Fallujah and elsewhere and to the provision of humanitarian relief, and encourages the Goverlmlent of Iraq to continue working with the United Nations Assistance Mission for h'aq (UNAM1) and humanitarian agencies to ensure the delivery of humanitarian relief. The Security Council expresses concern about the impact of the violence on civilians, and encourages the safe passage of civilians trapped in conflict areas, as well as the safe return of internally displaced persons as conditions allow.

The Security Council stresses the critical importance of continued national dialogue and unity, an inclusive political process, the holding of free and fair elections in April 2014, and the right to peaceful protest as guaranteed under the h'aqi Constitution. The Security Council believes that this is vital to underpin a unified national stance against terrorism, and to ensure h'aq's long-term security.

The Security Council reaffirms the need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice, and urges all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with Iraqi authorities in this regard.

The Security Council reaffmns that ISIL (QE.J.115.04) is subject to the arlns embargo and assets freeze imposed by Security Council resolutions 1267 (1999) and 2083 (2012) and underlines the importance of prompt and effective implementation of these measures.

The Security Council reaffmns the need to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, tlu'eats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed. The Security Council reminds States that they must ensure that measures taken to combat terrorism comply with all their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and hulnanitarian law.

The Security Council reaffirms its support for the independence, sovereignty, unity and ten'itorial integrity of h'aq. The Security Council reiterates that no terrorist act can reverse the path towards peace, democracy and reconstruction in Iraq, which is supported by the people and the Government of Iraq and the international community.